Marnie’s Comments (group member since Dec 06, 2015)

Marnie’s comments from the Classics Without All the Class group.

Tara- I all for doing a buddy read of Remains of the Day. I think Leo's review definitely pushed it up in my queue of books to read.

George, I haven't read it but I do want to read it now, I'm interested I seeing the style similarities. I did see the movie and I thought there were things that probably were explained better in the book and seemed unfinished in the movie. It's definitely on my too-read list now

That's a good point George, Ruth does serve that purpose well.
Also, I'm definitely a multi- book reader myself. I always try to make them different genres or time periods so I can keep them separated in my mind.

How does everyone feel about the characters' likeableness? I think I disliked Ruth since the imaginary horse-play when she and Kath met. Occasionally she did something redeemable but it seems more often then not her actions annoyed me. Thoughts?

Speaking of his writing style ... How did you guys feel about the way he lead into things with teasers? Such as when Kathy says "What happened after that row over the chess illustrates pretty well the point I'm making" at the end of the first part of ch 5. The "row over the chess" hasn't been mentioned yet at all, so the reader has to continue to find out what's she's talking about. Ishiguro does this in several places. It reminded me of mystery writing.

I had heard someone describe the book a bit so I knew something strange would pop up in the story, but I didn't know exactly what. I was surprised a bit as the story started unfolding, but I'm sure I would have found it more so if I'd never heard anything about the book. The normality of the characters keeps you feeling like all this is all normal, just like they were taught at Halisham.

The subtlety of the book is the real beauty of the story, it's a shame the movie didn't capture it. ( I'll still watch it though).

Hi everyone I'll be the discussion leader this month for the first time! I'm really excited to discuss Never Let Me Go. I'm about halfway through. How many of you have started it or read it before? It was adapted into a movie in 2010, though I've not seen it and don't plan to until after I've finished reading. Was anyone familiar with the plot before they started reading? (no spoilers yet).

Shamefully , I'm not very far at all- I think we may keep discussing this one all year!

Now I wanna hear a fart joke

I bought the Barnes and Noble Classics paperback yesterday- since the one I was reading wasn't formatted to show both texts exactly side by side on my device and I had to do a lot of flipping back and forth. This translation actually much better. The modern English is just modern enough to understand and they try to keep the flow and end-rhyme where they can.

Som man desireth for to han richesse,
That cause is of his mordre of greet siknesse.
And som man wolde out of his prisoun fayn,
That in his hous is of his meynee slayn.
Infinite harmes been in this mateere,
We witen nat what thing we preyen heere.

I'm reading a side by side Middle English / modern translation. It will be a bit slow because I'm really reading it twice. So far I'm only halfway thought the Knights first tale, but I like attempting to understand the Middle English first. Some parts are actually pretty clear. I wouldn't want to read the modern translation only because you lose the rhyme and rhythm that's the beauty of the original text.

@Tanya-Marie that's quite encouraging since I also found a tale of two cites difficult I stared it twice and still haven't finished it. Gone With the Wind should fare better

Thanks guys- I'm actually really enjoying it-perhaps I will make it through by end of Jan.

I'm on chapter 2. I'm a just little intimidated about finishing before January. Anyone else?

@ Janet thanks. The loneliness of the characters just really stood out to me. I may give The Brothers Karamazov a shot.

I like the contrast of the two lonely characters , one who can escape- Nastanka from under her Grandmother's skirt ( literally ) and the narrator who is doomed to eternal solitude I love that both characters loneliness has different qualities. Nastanka is young and she has the will to try and change her situation, first by packing a bag to accompany the boarder when he leaves, and later, enlisting the narrator to carry letters to her intended. The narrator is set in his solitude. He hesitates to approach Nastanka even though she seems distressed, until another man approaches her and he feels he has to rescue her. Even though he immediately falls in love with her, he's content with just having been close to her for a few days and helps her pursue another man's love. At the end he sits in his room and pictures his entire life passing in that way unchanged and accepts it, with no hint he'll ever try to change his situation again.

Like Terry I too thought the flowery speech was too much, but once you get past it Dostoyevsky says a lot about lonliness and love. I actually think the protagonist's style of speech shows the mania he lives in as a result of solitude.

Yes I agree the white night is a spark of brightness in his dark life as he writes :“My God, a whole moment of happiness! Is that too little for the whole of a man's life?”

So, what do you think, is a moment enough? Are we happy he had his moment or sad it's all he had?

Or does he make this statement sarcastically, because it isn't enough?